Broward school board member urges cautious school repurposing, highlights student mental-health crisis and bus seat policy

Alan Zeman, a Broward County School Board member who represents Plantation, told the City of Plantation council on March 12 that the district faces a need to repurpose and close a substantial number of school buildings to direct more funds into academics and student supports.

"Broward County has 33 more schools than we can possibly afford," Zeman said, adding that draft state legislation could accelerate district consolidation but that the district needs time to phase it in. He said the goal is to end with "a better school system, just one that has fewer buildings in general."

Zeman told the council the district's ban on student cell phones from "morning bell to afternoon bell" has coincided with a countywide 17% decline in fights and that recent test results moved Broward schools to an A rating. He said legislators are considering a statewide bell‑to‑bell restriction similar to Broward’s policy and that he hopes it will include an "instructor option" allowing teachers to permit phones for instructional or safety reasons.

Zeman also addressed student mental health, telling the council this week the district lost a student to a self‑inflicted gunshot wound and that "we are in a national crisis on mental health." He said Broward is adopting new metrics and strategic initiatives to address suicidal ideation and other youth mental‑health needs.

On transportation, Zeman said many buses run with unused seats and urged city leaders to support policies that would make empty seats available from day one to reduce traffic and soft costs to families. "We spend a hundred and $5,000,000 a year busing kids. It is, roughly $2,000 per kid per year," he said, and described technology options (for example, bus‑tracking apps) that could improve seat allocation.

Council members asked questions about specific school‑board properties and transportation logistics. Council member Andrea noted Mayor Sordle had sent a letter to Superintendent Hepburn about a school‑board parcel near Broward and Hiatus and said the city might have a right of first refusal if the board sells that land; Zeman said the superintendent's office had already scheduled a discussion. Council member Anders and others described concerns and operational details about implementing an "empty seat" program and suggested first‑come, first‑serve or bumping provisions when necessary.

Zeman also described local examples of programmatic innovation — citing New River Middle School’s marine science program as an initiative that began after a municipal request — and encouraged continued city–district collaboration.

Mayor Sordle and council members thanked Zeman for the update and discussed next steps for intergovernmental coordination.

Ending: Zeman said he is available to discuss specific schools and encouraged residents to contact their school‑board representatives about repurposing and transportation questions.